Data Collection From Asynchronous Transmissions in Wireless Mesh Networks

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the initiation message includes a data selection specification, wherein the data selection specification defines a subset of data received by the plurality of routing communication devices to be provided in response to the initiation message.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the data selection specification identifies a subset of battery operated sensor devices from which data is requested.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the data selection specification identifies a subset of data received from the plurality of battery operated sensor devices.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the subset data received identifies one or more types of sensor data being requested.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the initiation message specifies a timing for initiation of the acknowledgement frame.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the initiation message specifies an adjustment of a timing for initiation of the acknowledgement frame.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the sensor data received by the at least one of the plurality of routing communication devices from the non-battery operated sensor devices is merged with and transmitted to the control communication device along with sensor data originating from one or more battery operated sensor devices.

10. A system comprising the control communication device and the plurality of routing communication devices, wherein the control communication device and the plurality of routing communication devices perform the method of claim 1.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising inserting additional information into the initiation message by the control communication device, wherein each of the plurality of routing communication devices interprets the additional information by at least setting the one or more bits in accordance with the result of the interpretation.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising time shifting the acknowledgement frame depending on the additional information inserted in the initiation message by the control communication device.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein the entire memory is fully dedicated to receiving sensor data asynchronously sent by sensor devices.